NEW PARENT INFORMATION Making an Informed Decision Important Dates JUNE 15 JULY 1 JULY 13 JULY 27 AUGUST 6 AUGUST 13 6:45 8:00 PM AUGUST 20 Acceptance letters and membership packets are mailed. $50 deposit or tuition assistance application due. Commitment contract and all enclosed forms are due. You may pay your tuition in full at this time. Tuition assistance award notification letters are mailed. Those receiving awards must notify us of their acceptance by July 27. Tuition assistance acceptance must be received. Tuition is due in full. MANDATORY New Parent Orientation Meeting. PARENTS NEW TO CCGD MUST attend this meeting. At this meeting we will discuss key procedures that are vital to your child s participation and positive experience with the chorus. If for some reason you cannot attend, please notify the Chorus office. Since this is a business meeting, please do not bring small children if at all possible. First rehearsal for all singers 2018-2019 CCGD Meyerson Concerts* Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center Sunday, November 25, 2018 (7:30 p.m.) Sunday, February 17, 2019 (7:30 p.m.) Sunday, April 7, 2019 (7:30 p.m.) *The full performance schedule will be listed on the season calendar that you receive in August, and all performances listed are mandatory. 1
Choruses Prelude: This chorus is designed to introduce children to the vocal and musical skills required for classical choral singing. This chorus usually performs once or twice each semester. Apprentice: This is an intermediate level chorus designed to continue the development of children s vocal and musical skills that are necessary to participate in one of the Concert choruses. This chorus usually performs once or twice each semester. Concert II: This is an advanced chorus. This chorus performs at least two to three times each semester and will perform with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra during the 2018-2019 season. Concert I: This is the most advanced children s chorus. As such, the performance schedule for this chorus is the most extensive and can be as often as once a month. This chorus will perform with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra during the 2018-2019 season. Women s Youth Chorus: This is an advanced chorus for young women in the ninth through twelfth grades. This chorus performs two to three times each semester. Youth Chorus: This is an advanced chorus for men and women in the ninth through twelfth grades. This chorus performs two to three times each semester. Annual Tuition Chorus 2018-2019 Tuition Prelude $420 Apprentice $470 Concert II $595 Concert I $695 Women s Youth Chorus $645 + $50 music fee* Youth Chorus $645 + $50 music fee* Tuition and music fees are non-refundable. Need-based tuition assistance is available for qualified singers. Information about tuition assistance and an application form will be included in your membership packet. You may also request a payment plan (up to a maximum of three payments), but all tuition must be paid in full before the November 25 th concert. *The singers in Women s Youth Chorus and Youth Chorus pay a $50 music fee each season because they are able to keep their music. 2
Rehearsal Times and Locations All choruses rehearse on Monday evenings at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road (corner of Northwest Highway and Inwood). Chorus Prelude Apprentice Concert II Concert I Women s Youth Chorus Youth Chorus Time 6:00 7:00 p.m. 6:00 7:15 p.m. 6:30 8:00 p.m. 7:00 8:45 p.m. 7:00 9:00 p.m. 7:00 9:00 p.m. Concert I also rehearses one Saturday morning or afternoon each month. Apprentice and Concert II rehearse two Saturday mornings or afternoons each semester. Attendance Policy REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE Singers must attend ALL rehearsals in order to fully learn the music being taught. However, we understand that unavoidable circumstances do arise. There are two kinds of absences: Regular and Music. We ask that you notify Susan in the chorus office, preferably by email at susan@thechildrenschorus.org, if your child is going to be absent for any reason. Regular Absences A singer can be absent 3 times each semester for illness, too much homework, car trouble, spring break, nausea, bad traffic, bad weather, school testing, vacation, forgot, Fair Day, you name it. These are called regular absences. These regular absences are tracked as follows: One (1) absence for missing a Monday night rehearsal One and one half (1.5) absences for missing a Saturday rehearsal (Concert I /II and Apprentice) Two (2) tardies count as one absence. Singers are considered tardy if: They arrive 10 minutes after the rehearsal start time; or, They leave rehearsal more than 10 minutes early. Penalties for Excessive Regular Absences After three regular absences, a letter will be sent from Ms. Nott, the Artistic Director. After the fourth regular absence, the singer may be dismissed from the chorus. There are no refunds for tuition. 3
Attendance Policy (cont d) Music Absences CCGD encourages all singers to participate in their school music and religious choir programs. Absences for graded school music (school choir, school band or school orchestra) or religious choir are considered Music absences and will not count toward the three regular absences. However, you must let CCGD know at least four weeks in advance of a school music or religious choir absence. See the section below about participation in school musicals. Penalties for Excessive Music Absences This is handled on a case-by-case basis. On occasion, there may come a point when your child simply is not in enough rehearsals to participate fully. The Artistic Director will call you and discuss dismissal. There are no refunds for tuition. Musicals If you choose or are required to participate in a musical theatre production (either at your school, your church, or in the community), this is not considered a Music absence and must be coordinated in advance with Ms. Nott, the Artistic Director. 1. Let the musical conductor know of your Monday night commitment with CCGD. This discussion should occur well in advance of the first musical rehearsal. Many musical directors accept a conflict sheet at the time of the musical audition for the student s regularly scheduled activities. They will work with you! 2. Once you have discussed your CCGD commitment with the musical director, email Ms. Nott, the Artistic Director (cynthia@thechildrenschorus.org) to discuss a compromise between CCGD and the musical director, including in the email all dates you foresee being absent from CCGD rehearsal. PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE Performance attendance is mandatory and is different from rehearsal attendance. All performances listed on the CCGD calendar handed out in August are mandatory. In August, if you find you have a conflict with a performance, call the Artistic Director, Ms. Nott at 214-965-0491 IMMEDIATELY. 4
Concert Attire Concert Attire Prelude, Apprentice, Concert II, and Concert I Girls Boys Polos & T-shirts for Both Girls and Boys Black and white long dress. Cost is approximately $80 new, $40 used (if available). Black tights or knee-highs (opaque) and black leather ballet slippers. NOTE: There will be two fitting dates this summer and the dates will be listed in your membership packet. If not ordered by the last fitting date, the dress price increases to $95. Wing-tip Tuxedo shirt with white buttons, tuxedo slacks, cummerbund, black bow tie, black dress shoes and socks Boys purchase their own attire at a local tuxedo retailer, such as Al s Formal Wear, where you will receive a small discount. Cost is approximately $60. More information will be given in the membership packet. Every member of Prelude & Apprentice may need to purchase a CCGD T-shirt for $15. Every member of Concert I and Concert II must purchase a CCGD black polo for $25. Members of other choruses, parents, and family members may also purchase polos and T-shirts, but it is not required. Concert Attire Women s Youth and Youth Chorus Women Men Polos & T-shirts for Both Men and Women Long, black dress. Cost is approximately $80 new, $40 used (if available) Black hose or knee-hi s and black leather ballet shoes NOTE: There will be two fitting dates this summer and the dates will be listed in your membership packet. If not ordered by the last fitting date, the dress price increases to $95. Full tuxedo with wing-tip shirt with white buttons Males purchase their own tuxedos at a local tuxedo retailer, such as Al s Formal Wear, where you will receive a small discount; or they may wear their school choir tuxedo. More information will be given in the membership packet. Our Responsibilities: CCGD and Parents Chorus members, parents and family members may purchase polos & T-shirts, but it is not required. Expectations of CCGD 1. Supervision - Singers will be supervised during rehearsals and performances.. 2. Communication a. CCGD makes a conscious effort to be efficient with email communication. b. CCGD will update the website to make sure you have access to the latest information. c. We are committed to minimizing the amount of paper communication we send home with your child. However, we will send home important information. Expectations of Parents 1. Transportation - Parents are responsible for transportation to and from rehearsals and performances. 2. Drop-Off and Pick-Up - Parents are expected to deliver and pick up their children on time. 3. Venues As guests of our host church, we are all expected to respect their rules (including respecting their space, controlling our children, respecting their staff, etc.) 4. Communication a. Parents are expected to read all email communication sent from the Chorus office. b. Parents are expected to watch for information sent home with choristers. c. Parents should check the Chorus websites for weekly updates.. 5. Volunteering CCGD encourages parents to volunteer their time and expertise to support chorus activities. 5